How has Covid-19 changed SEO?

How has Covid-19 changed SEO?

Hear at Manchester SEO we have been discussing how we think SEO has changed in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and in the future.

One thing is for sure, SEO and online visibility is more important than ever.

Considering that google rankings tend to be affected by the smallest change in wind direction, what effect will the greatest humanitarian crisis in decades have on it?

As the world is catching its breath we look at the new realities of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis, many businesses are seeing big changes to their traffic, search rankings and other metrics.

The impact of Lockdown on search traffic

You’ve heard a lot of people say that Search Engine Optimisation is important at the moment, this is because internet use is the highest it’s ever been. The first part of that statement—that SEO is important—is true, but the reason why probably needs a bit more explanation. 

Yes, internet use has skyrocketed during this outbreak, but don’t forget that “internet use” does not refer exclusively to online search. In addition to search, it includes a wide array of activities such electronic transfers, virtual meetings, gaming, movie streaming, mobile apps, social media, and more.

It’s okay to write about trending topics as they relate to your business, but these pages will naturally decline in traffic over time. They also are less likely to rank in the first place, since leading brands and high authority websites will dominate page one results. Content written on evergreen topics within your niche, on the other hand, stays relevant and accumulates traffic over time. As such, there is never a bad time to publish content on evergreen topics.

Bright Edge wrote and interesting article on this:

Why should brands care about SEO during the coronavirus?

As organizations work to remain relevant for their target customers throughout this pandemic, maintaining a strong digital presence through SEO and content marketing will be one of the most important steps they take. As brick and mortar stores continue to find themselves forced to shut their doors, digital advertising and ecommerce has become more important than ever. Customers are increasingly shifting their buying activity towards online options, and brands need to be present for these consumers.

In France, Statista has shown that the traffic rates for online supermarkets have increased by 4%, online fashion merchants saw a 6.1% jump, and online pharmacies saw over a 15% jump since March 13, 2020.

Adobe found these trends to be mirrored in the United States, where the online purchase of over-the-counter medicines, food, and anti-viral protective equipment have all seen tremendous surges.

Consumers are turning to online markets to address their needs, which means that thriving organizations will be those ready to meet them with an excellent online experience and engaging content. Brands should also note that much of this growth has occurred on mobile devices, as smartphones and tablets have seen an incredible 50% growth in usage comparing March 2019 to March 2020.